How to Use SharePlay with Hulu

SharePlay lets you watch Hulu with friends and family in real time over FaceTime, even when you’re miles apart. Everyone sees the same show, and playback is synced so you can react together. This guide walks you through setting up a SharePlay session on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, and covers what to do when it doesn’t work as expected.

What You’ll Need

An iPhone, iPad, or Mac with FaceTime enabled.
The latest version of iOS, iPadOS, or macOS (SharePlay requires iOS 15.1 or later, iPadOS 15.1 or later, or macOS Monterey 12.1 or later).
The Hulu app installed and updated to the latest version.
An active Hulu subscription (any plan works, including the ad-supported tier).
All participants must have the Hulu app installed and be signed in to their own Hulu account.
A stable internet connection for all participants.

Step-by-Step

Start a FaceTime call. Open the FaceTime app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Tap the “New FaceTime” button, then add the contacts you want to invite. Alternatively, you can start a FaceTime call from an existing conversation in the Messages app by tapping the FaceTime icon.
Wait for everyone to join. Make sure all participants have accepted the FaceTime call and are visible on screen. SharePlay only works when everyone is actively on the call.
Open the Hulu app. While the FaceTime call is active, go to your home screen and open Hulu. You can do this by swiping up (or pressing the Home button) and tapping the Hulu icon. The app will launch normally.
Choose a title. Browse Hulu and select the movie or TV show you want to watch. Tap on it to go to its details page.
Tap Play. Start playback as you normally would. The video will begin playing on your device.
Look for the SharePlay prompt. When playback starts, a banner should appear at the top of the screen saying “SharePlay” with options like “Play for Everyone” or “Play for Me.” Tap “Play for Everyone” to start the synchronized session.
Confirm on all devices. Each participant will see a similar prompt on their device. They need to tap “Join” or “Play” to accept the SharePlay session. Once everyone accepts, the video will sync across all devices.
Control playback together. During the session, any participant can pause, play, rewind, or fast-forward. The controls will affect everyone’s playback simultaneously. You’ll also see a small SharePlay icon (two overlapping circles) in the corner of the screen to indicate the session is active.
End the session. To stop SharePlay, simply hang up the FaceTime call or close the Hulu app. The video will stop on all devices.

Common Mistakes

Not updating Hulu or iOS. SharePlay requires recent software versions. If you or a participant are running older versions, the option won’t appear. Check for updates in Settings > General > Software Update and in the App Store.
Starting the FaceTime call after opening Hulu. SharePlay only works if FaceTime is already active when you start playing content. If you open Hulu first, you’ll need to go back and start the call, then try again.
Ignoring the SharePlay prompt. If you tap “Play for Me” instead of “Play for Everyone,” you’ll watch alone. Make sure you select the right option.
Using a non-Apple device. SharePlay is exclusive to Apple devices. Android users or those on Windows cannot join a SharePlay session.
Not being signed in to Hulu. Each participant must be signed in to their own Hulu account. If someone isn’t signed in, they won’t be able to join the playback.

Tips

Use headphones. To avoid echo or feedback during the call, have everyone use headphones. This also keeps the audio from the show from bleeding into the FaceTime audio.
Check your audio settings. During SharePlay, you can adjust the volume of the video and the FaceTime call separately. Use the volume buttons or the on-screen sliders to balance them.
Use Picture-in-Picture. You can minimize the Hulu video to a small window while you browse other apps or text your friends. The video will continue playing in the corner of your screen.
Test with a short clip first. Before starting a full movie, try a short episode to make sure everyone’s connection is stable and the sync works well.
Keep everyone’s volume in mind. If someone has their device on silent, they might not hear the video. Remind everyone to turn up their volume.

Troubleshooting

SharePlay prompt doesn’t appear. If you don’t see the SharePlay banner when you start playing a video, try the following:

End the FaceTime call and start it again.
Close the Hulu app completely and reopen it.
Make sure all participants have updated to the latest software.
Check that Hulu is allowed to use SharePlay: Go to Settings > FaceTime > SharePlay and ensure it’s enabled.

Video is out of sync. If playback drifts out of sync, pause and resume the video. This often resyncs the stream. If it continues, check everyone’s internet connection. A weak connection can cause delays.

Some participants can’t join. If a friend doesn’t see the “Join” prompt, they should:

Make sure they’re on the FaceTime call and that their camera is on (SharePlay may not work if the call is in audio-only mode).
Update their Hulu app.
Restart their device.

Audio is choppy or echoing. This is usually a network issue. Ask everyone to close other bandwidth-heavy apps. Also, using headphones can reduce echo.

SharePlay works but the video is blocked. Some titles on Hulu may not support SharePlay due to licensing restrictions. If you see an error message, try a different movie or show.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use SharePlay with Hulu on an Android phone? No, SharePlay is only available on Apple devices (iPhone, iPad, and Mac). Android users cannot participate in a SharePlay session.

Does everyone need their own Hulu subscription? Yes, each participant must be signed in to their own Hulu account. There’s no way to share one account across SharePlay.

Can I watch live TV on Hulu via SharePlay? Yes, you can SharePlay live channels and events, but they may have additional restrictions. If you encounter issues, try a on-demand title instead.

Can I use SharePlay with Hulu on an Apple TV? No, SharePlay is not supported on Apple TV. It only works on iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

Can I control the volume of the video separately from the FaceTime call? Yes, you can adjust the video volume using the volume buttons on your device while the Hulu app is active. The FaceTime call volume is controlled separately in the FaceTime interface.

What happens if someone leaves the FaceTime call? The SharePlay session ends for everyone. The video will stop playing on all devices, and you’ll need to start a new session to continue watching together.

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